Overview
- A nearly six-minute, moderately explosive eruption sent a dark ash column about 3,000 metres into the sky from Mayon volcano.
- The Philippine volcanology institute raised the alert level from 2 to 3 and ordered evacuations within a six-kilometre radius of the crater.
- Authorities warned of an increased chance of lava flows and dangerous pyroclastic density currents on the volcano’s upper to middle slopes over the coming days to weeks.
- Aviation authorities were asked to warn pilots because ash clouds can endanger aircraft, and officials say there are no reports of casualties or damage so far.
- Mayon is a 2,462-metre volcano in Albay known for unpredictable activity, and officials point to past evacuations and the 1991 Mount Pinatubo disaster to explain the cautious response.